Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Bukayo Saka is fit and available again for tomorrow’s game against Fulham.
Our winger has been out for over three months are tearing a hamstring at Crystal Palace just before Christmas which required surgery, but after plenty of rehab Bukayo has completed his recovery in time for the visit of the Cottagers to Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.
And Mikel revealed the England international is itching to play again as we enter the season’s final straight, with Premier League and Champions League glory up for grabs.
“Bukayo is ready to go,” the boss said in his pre-match press conference. “All the careful things he's already done, so now it's about putting him on the grass in the right moments.
“He's pushing because he really wants it. We have respect the timeframe, but we have done everything and we have had to hold him back even, so he's ready to go.
“It's another massive weapon that we have. We know the impact that he's had on the team and how important his role and his contribution is to our success, so great to have him back.”
As well as his undoubted impact on the field, Mikel is also excited to have Bukayo back in the thick of the squad as we gear up for the most exciting part of the campaign.
He also feels that he could be fit enough to potentially start against Fulham, but wherever he’s named on the teamsheet, Mikel believes that he’s ready to hit the ground running despite missing our last 19 matches.
On what he’ll bring to the team again, he suggested: “It’s more the energy that he transmits, that he's missed the thing that he loves the most in his life, which is to be around the team, to play, to train, and to compete at the highest level. The fact that he's able to come in the most important part of the season is a massive boost for him and the team as well.
“He hasn’t played for three months, but has played for the last 48 months. So three in 48 is a very small percentage. I haven't done the housekeeping duties for a week, but I've done it for 10 years, so I know what to do, I know how to sustain it, and I'm clever enough to maintain that. The habit is certainly there, so don't think about that.”
Mikel also gave an update on Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber who missed action for their nations during the international break.
Riccardo was forced off late on against Germany and missed Italy’s next match with a knee problem, while Jurrien was forced to watch the Netherlands’ matches from the sidelines through illness.
While Mikel feels he should be available again, the news wasn’t as optimistic for Riccardo.
“He picked up an injury again with the national team,” Mikel added. “It’s really unfortunate the way it happened. It could have been much worse so hopefully it's going to be a matter of weeks, but we'll have to see how that injury evolves.
“Jurien was ill for a long period, quite badly. He's felt much better in the last few days, so he's available.”
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